Coil winding apparatus and method



g 6, 1969 B. A. WHITEMAN 3,463,376

COIL WINDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed June 27, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 11.

HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1969 w rr 3,463,376

COIL WINDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed June 27, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet. I3

if 91 86 FIG. 5

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"All" INVENTOR 44 [50 [54 -85 BENTON AWHiTEMAN 151 87 sw F IG.6 BY ,OZ \,\w/ i HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1969 a. A. WHITEMAN 3,463,375

COIL WINDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed June 27, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. IO

INVE NTOR BENTON AWHITEMAN HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 226-148 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to an apparatus for and method of controlling material means such as an elongated strip or ribbon of material used to define a coil construction wherein such elongated strip is moved in a first direction during the winding thereof on a coil winding mandrel and across roller means while in pressure contact with such roller means to cause rotation thereof in a direction corresponding to such first direction and upon stopping the winding operation wedge means is provided and operated by the roller means in response to a change in rotation thereof caused by a change in the direction of movement of the elongated strip to thereby prevent backlash of the elongated strip.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Reference is made to copending patent application, Ser. No. 497,069, filed Oct. 18, 1965.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION During the winding of elongated material means in coil form such as the winding of an elongated strip of electrically conductive material simultaneously with an insulating strip to define an electrical coil, for example, it is important that the movement of such elongated strips be accurately controlled. In particular, it is desirable that as the coil winding operation is stopped, such as to attach an electrical lead to the electrically conductive strip, there should be no undesirable backlash in the system.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved apparatus for and method of controlling movement of an elongated strip during winding thereof to define a coil construction which effectively eliminates undesirable backlash in the elongated strip being wound upon stopping the winding operation.

Other details, advantages, and uses of this invention will become apparent as the following description of the exemplary embodiment thereof presented in the accompanying drawing proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The accompanying drawing shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a strip conductor coil formed using the apparatus and method of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary coil winding apparatus used in making the coil of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating electrical leads attached by the apparatus of FIGURE 2 to an elongated strip of electrically conductive material used in forming the coil construction of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

3,463,376 Patented Aug. 26, 1969 FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view showing the manner of coupling a freely rotatable core carrying mandrel wit drive means therefor;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view with parts broken away illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the apparatus and method of this invention which comprises the coil winding apparatus of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the apparatus of FIGURE 6 with parts in section and parts broken away;

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 6 with an elongated strip of material passing therethrough;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view with parts in section illustrating the top roller means of the apparatus of FIG- ure 6 held in a retracted position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT An exemplary strip conductor coil construction or coil made by the apparatus and method of this invention is shown in FIGURE 1 and indicated generally by the reference numeral 25. Coil 25 comprises a tubular and substantially right circular cylindrical core element 26 which has a ribbon or strip 27 of electrically conductive material wound thereon together with a strip of electrical insulating material 28 interleaved between adjacent coils or layers of strip 27 in a manner as will be hereinafter described.

Strip 27 has inner end means comprising an inner electrical lead 30 fixed thereto and outer end means comprising an outer electrical lead 31 suitably fixed thereto. The completed coil 25 is adapted to be installed in an associated electrical system with its leads 30 and 31 suitably electrically connected in a known manner.

The exemplary coil 25 presented in FIGURE 1 has electrically conductive strip 27 wound on core element 26 in unison with the separate strip of insulating material 28, as previously mentioned, so that the strip of insulating material 28 is interleaved between adjacent coils of the strip of conductive material 27 to electrically insulate adjacent coils of strip 27 from each other. However, if desired, the under side of the elongated strip of conductive material 27 may be prelaminated to an insulative strip or coating of insulating material before the same is wound on the core element 26 to provide electrical insulation means between adjacent coils of the strip of conductive material while using the apparatus and method of this invention to prevent undesirable backlash during the coil winding operation.

The exemplary coil winding apparatus used in forming the strip conductor coil construction 25 of FIGURE 1 in a substantially continuous manner is generally indicated by the reference numeral 32 in FIGURE 2. Appartus 32 includes a frame structure 33 rotatably carrying a supply roll 34 of conductive strip material 27 as well as a supply roll 29 of insulating material 28 to be interleaved between adjacent coils of strip conductor 27 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The tubular core elements 26 may be made of cardboard or the like and are contained in a suitable hopper means or hopper 36. Hopper 36 has a downwardly extending chute 37 extending from its lower end. Each core element is adapted to be serially fed into a retainer 38 provided at the terminal lower end of chute 37 and supported to enable it to be easily picked up by an associated mandrel in a manner to be subsequently described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, frame structure 33 carries a rotary table 39 which is adapted to be indexed in a rotary manner about a fixed vertical axis. Table 39 carries three actuating means or actuators shown as three fluid cylinders each designated by the numeral 40.

Each cylinder 40 has a telescoping rod 41 which carries support means enabling coil 25 to be formed thereon and such support means comprises a radially expandable and freely rotatable mandrel 42 carried at the terminal end of telescoping rod 41. Each cylinder 40 is adapted to extend and yieldingly hold its mandrel 42 into operative engagement with drive means therefor in a known manner.

The table 39 is adapted to index the mandrels 42 through three stations 45, 46, and 47. When a mandrel 42 is indexed to station 45, the associated cylinder 40 extends associated rod 41 radially outwardly telescoping mandrel 42 within a core element 26 supported within retainer 38 at the lower end of hopper 36.

When the mandrel 42 at station 45 has a core 26 thereon, the associated piston rod 41 is retracted by cylinder 40 so that the core 26 is carried by mandrel 42 out of the retainer 38 whereby such retracted mandrel can be indexed from station 45 to winding station 46. Hopper 36 contains a plurality of cores 26 which are adapted to be serially dropped into retainer 38 through chute 37 as previously mentioned. As each core 26 is removed by an associated mandrel from retainer 38 another core 26 drops in its place.

With the core carrying mandrel 42 now at station 46, the piston rod 41 thereof is extended to interconnect mandrel 42 by suitable driven clutch means 51) provided in its terminal outer end to suitable cooperating driving clutch means 51 provided on a rotatable drive shaft 53 comprising winding apparatus 32, see FIGURES 1 and 5. As drive shaft 53 is rotated, the same rotates mandrel 42 at station 46 to cause elongated strips 27 and 28 to be simultaneously wound on the core 26 carried by the rotating mandrel 42 to define coil construction 25.

After a completed strip conductor coil 25 has been formed on mandrel 42 at station 46, the associated piston rod 41 is retracted to thereby disconnect the driven mandrel 42 from drive shaft 53 and specifically to thereby move driven cutch means 50 away from driving clutch 51, whereby the retracted mandrel 42 is then indexed from station 46 to station 47. With the completed strip conductor coil 25 on mandrel 42 at station 47, the associated piston rod 41 is extended whereby the strip conductor coil 25 is held in a position at the station 47 so that a pair of stripping members each designated by the numeral 54, see FIGURE 2, can strip the finished strip conductor coil from mandrel 42.

The stripping members 54 are pivotally mounted to a support 55 by suitable pivot pins respectively carrying pinion gears disposed in meshing relation with each other. One of the stripping members 54 is interconnected to a piston rod 56 adapted to be extended and retracted by a fluid cylinder 57 carried by support 55. Thus, with a completed strip conductor coil 25 being held at station 47 by an extended mandrel 42, cylinder 57 is actuated to telescope its rod 56 outwardly and through the action of the above mentioned pinion gears stripping members 54 are brought into clamping engagement in a known manner on opposite sides of coil 25.

With the strip conductor coil 25 now firmly clamped between the stripping members 54 retraction of the piston rod 41 of the mandrel 42 at station 47 pulls such mandrel out of the core 26 of the completed strip conductor coil 25 so that the particular mandrel 42 can be subsequently indexed to the station 45 by indexing table 39. With the mandrel 42 at station 47 now retracted from within core 26 of the completed strip conductor coil 25, the cylinder 57 can be deactuated to return the stripping members 54 to the open position illustrated in FIGURE 2 whereby such members drop the completed strip conductor coil 25 onto a chute means 58. The completed strip conductor coil 25 moves down chute 58 to a table 59 for subsequent testing, packaging, and the like of the completed strip conductor coils 25 produced by apparatus 32.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURE 4, the elongated strip 27 is adapted to be fed from supply roll 34 through suitable slack reducing and tension applying roller device designated generally by the numeral 60. Thus, strip 27 passes from its free wheeling supply roll 34 around a roller 61 carried by a frame means 62 of device 60 which is pivotally mounted to the frame 33 of apparatus 32 by a pivot means 63. Strip 27 continues from roller 61 around a pair of idler rolls 64 and 65 and through the antibacklash apparatus of this invention to winding station 46.

A rod 66 is slidably carried by frame means 62 and has a roller 67 rotatably supported at its lower end and resting on supply roll 34. An arm 68 is provided and has one end pivotally mounted to the frame 33 by pivot means 69 and its opposite end adjustably carried by rod 66. Arm 68 is interconnected to member 62 by an adjustable tension spring 70.

A suitable braking system is also provided for supply roll 34 and comprises a brake band 71 passed around a roller 72 which carries the supply roll 34. Band 71 has one end 73 fixed to the frame structure 33 while the other end 74 is fastened to the frame means 62. It is to be understood that the purpose of the braking system for the supply roll 34 is to cooperate with device 60 to provide a uniform tension on the strip 27 as it is fed through the apparatus 32; act as a shock absorbing means, particularly when the apparatus 32 is started; and to overcome the inertia of the rotating supply roll 34 when apparatus 32 is stopped.

As supply roll 34 is continuously used, less and less spring tension by spring is needed whereby the interaction of the linkages comprising device 60 together with spring 70 automatically provides the desired tension. For example, as the supply roll 34 decreases in diameter, the roller 67 carries member 66 downwardly to thereby carry the right end of arm 68 downwardly to lessen the tension of spring 70 the correct amount.

The insulating strip 28 is fed around a roller 75 carried on a lever 76 pivotally mounted to frame 33 and urged in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 4 by a tension spring 79 which provides a slack reducing force on the strip 28 as the same is fed through the apparatus 32 along with the electrically conductive strip 27. Supply roll 29 also has a suitable brake band which has one end attached to lever 76 and its opposite end attached by a spring 77 to structure 33.

The strips 27 and 28 are combined or brought together underneath roller 65 rotatably supported on structure 33 and are then passed between upper and lower members as shown at 78 which attaches leads 30 and 31 to strip 27 in a known manner and as described in detail in the above referenced copending patent application, Ser. No. 497,069.

Strips 27 and 28 are then passed through the improved apparatus of this invention designated generally by the reference numeral 80 and between a combination hearing surface and guide means 81 and a table 82 to winding station 46. The strips 27 and 28 are then wound in unison about mandrel 42 at station 46 to form coil construction 25.

Apparatus 32 has a pair of taping head means designated by the numerals 83 and 84 which are employed to start strips 27 and 28 on core 26 as well as tape the final coil or layer of coil construction in position to prevent unwinding of coil 25. The manner in which guide 81, table 82, and taping heads 83 and 84 are utilized in forming coil construction 25 will be readily understood by referring to the operation of similar components fully disclosed in application Ser. No. 497,069 mentioned above; however, a detailed understanding of the operation of components 81, 82, 83, and 84 is not necessary to thoroughly understand the apparatus and method of the present invention which will now be described in detail.

The apparatus and method 80 of this invention is used to control movement of material means to winding station 46 and in this example apparatus 80 controls the movement of the elongated strip of electrically conductive material 27 and its associated insulating strip 28 to winding station 46.

Apparatus 80 comprises a base having a vertically arrnged portion 85 and a horizontally extending portion 86 suitably fixed to the top of vertical portion 85. Means is provided for vertically adjusting the position of apparatus 80 on coil winding apparatus 32 and in this example of the invention vertical base portion 85 has elongated slot 85A provided therein and which is adapted to receive fastening means such as a fastening bolt 87 therethrough. Thus, bolt 87 may be suitably threaded into the supporting structure 33 comprising coil winding apparatus 32 and the vertical position of the entire apparatus 80 may be adjusted simply by loosening bolt 87 positioning the entire apparatus 80 and then retightening bolt 87.

Apparatus or device 80 comprises a supporting structure which in this example of the invention is formed as a roughly C-shaped supporting structure designated by the numeral 88. Structure 88 is mounted for pivoting movement on horizontal base portion 86 and has means for positioning structure 88 in a manner as will be described in detail later. Structure 88 has support means shown as first roller means or a substantially right circular cylindrical roller 89 which is supported thereon for free rotation.

Bearing surface means is also provided onapparatus 80 and comprises second roller means or another substantially right circular cylindrical roller designated by the numeral 90 which is supported on C-shaped structure 88 for free rotation. Roller 90 is mounted on structure 88 so that it is yieldingly urged toward roller 89 and as elongated strips 27 and 28 are moved from their respective supply rolls 34 and 29 in a direction toward winding station 46 they are passed between rollers 89 .and 90 so that pressure contact is provided by such strips causing rotation of roller 89 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 9 of thedrawings. The counterclockwise rotation of roller 89 corresponds to the direction of movement of the material being wound on mandrel 42 and in this example of the invention the movement of such material is from right to left as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 9 of the drawings. p H

During the process of winding a coil construction such as exemplary coil construction it may be necessary to stop the coil winding operation for numerous reasons. For example, it may be necessary to stop the coil winding operation to attach electrical leads to the elongated electrically conductive strip 27 at predetermined positions therealong, as previously mentioned. During the stopping of the winding operation it has beenfound that,,there is a tendency for the material being wound to backlash and move in a direction generally opposite the direction of winding rotation. Such backlash is very undesirable and the improved, apparatus and method of'this invention has been provided to control the movement of the material being wound and in particular to prevent backlash, or the like. 1 v

As elongated strips 27 and 28 are wound on mandrel 42 to define coil construction 25 the movement of strips 27 and 28 is from right to left as seen in FIGURE 9; however, once mandrel 42 is stopped there is a tendency for thestrips 27 and 28 to reverse direction andmove from left to right. The unique apparatus 80 of this invention provides stopping means forstopping reverse movement of strips 27 and 28 by stopping therotation of roller 89. This stopping action is provided bystopping means shown as a wedge means or assembly designated generally by the numeral 91.

The general operation of the apparatus 80 of this invention will be readily understood from viewing FIG- for a more complete understanding thereof. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 9, during a normal coil winding operation the material being wound is moved from right to left rotating roller 89 in a counterclockwise direction. Wedge assembly 91 is yieldingly held lightly against the rotating roller 89; however, the arrangement of wedge assembly 91 with respect to the rotating roller 89 is such that wedge assembly 91 does not obstruct rotation and allows strips 27 and 28 to move in a right to left direction in an unobstructed manner.

Upon stopping the winding operation by stopping the drive motor which rotates shaft 53 and hence mandrel 42 there is a tendency of the material being wound to backlash; i.e. move from left to right as viewed in FIG- URE 9. This backlash action tends to reverse the direction of rotation of roller 89 and with such reversal in direction wedge assembly 91 is moved from right to left thereby tightly wedging against the outer periphery of roller 89 and effectively stopping the rotation of roller 89 and any tendency of the strips 27 and 28 being wound to move from left to right. With this general understanding of the overall operation of apparatus 80 a more detailed description will now be presented.

Roller 89 is supported for substantially frictionless rotation on supporting structure 88 using suitable means shown as a shaft 92. Shaft 92 is suitably fixed in position so that it suspends roller 89 above lower horizontal base portion 86 in spaced apart relation thereabove. Shaft 92 also supports roller 89 so as to prevent axial movement of roller 89 with respect to horizontal base portion 86.

Horizontal base portion 93 of structure 88 has substantially channel-shaped or U-shaped surface means 95 formed therein defining elongated slot means or an elongated slot in structure 88. U-shaped surface 95 and hence its associated slot is arranged in structure 85 so that its axis is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the material means toward the mandrel 42 at winding station 46. Wedge assembly 91 has a lower configuration corresponding to the U-shaped surface 95 and is adapted to be nested within such U-shaped surface for sliding movement therealong.

As previously mentioned, the wedge assembly 91 is yieldingly held against roller 89. In this example of the invention, yielding means comprised of a spring 100 is provided, see FIG. 9, and spring 100 has its lower end portion fixed in position by a threaded screw 101 which is threaded into a cooperating threaded opening 102 provided in lower horizontal portion of 93 of C-shaped support assembly 88. The upper portion .103 of spring 100 engages wedge assembly 91 and lightly urges assembly 91 into wedged engagement with the outer periphery URES 6 and 9 of the drawings and will be described of roller 89.

Roller 90 comprises the previously mentioned bearing surface means of apparatus and is yieldingly urged toward roller 89 to thereby yieldingly clamp the elongated strips 27 and 28 being wound on mandrel 42 against roller 89. Roller cooperates with roller 89 to assure that once wedge assembly 91 is brought into firm engagement with roller 89 by clockwise rotation of roller 89 caused by reverse movement of elongated strips 27 and 28 away from mandrel 42, movement is not possible to the right of apparatus 80 as seen in FIGURE 9.

Roller 90 is suitably mounted for essentially friction free rotation on a U-shaped bracket assembly designated generally by the numeral 105. Bracket assembly 105 has a base portion 106 and a pair of downwardly extending leg portions each designated by the numeral 107. Roller 90 is supported on a shaft 108 which is fastened between leg portions 107 adjacent their terminal outer ends.

U-shaped bracket 105 has a threaded opening 1.12 extending through its base portion 106 which is adapted to receive a shaft designated generally by the numeral 113 therethrough, see FIGURES 7 and 9. Shaft 113 is suitably ca-rried on Oshaped support 88 in a manner as will 7 be subsequently described so as to enable roller 90 to be yieldingly urged toward roller 89.

Threaded opening 112 in U-shaped bracket 105 is arranged in substantially parallel relation with the shaft 108 carrying roller 90. Upon installing U-shaped bracket 105 in position on structure 88, shaft 113 and hence shaft 108 is arranged substantially parallel to shaft 92 rotatably supporting roller 89.

The means provided for yieldingly urging roller 90 toward roller 89 comprises yielding means shown as a coiled spring 114 having one end portion shown at 115 suitably fixed to supporting structure 88 and an opposite end portion 116 extending through a cooperating opening 117 provided in a leg portion 107 of -U-shaped bracket 105. Spring 114 operates to continually yieldingly urge bracket 105 and hence roller 90 toward roller 89 to thereby yieldingly clamp the elongated strips 27 and 28 between rollers 90 and 89, see FIGURE 9.

In some applications of this invention it may be desirable to provide means for adjusting the axial position of roller 90 so that it contacts the peripheral surface of roller 89 at different positions therealong corresponding to the position at which strips 27 and 28 are being moved thereacross. The :adjusting means provided for adjusting the position of roller 90 in this example of the invention will now be described.

Shaft 113 has an inner end portion 120 and an outer end portion 121 which are substantially smooth and are adapted to be supported in cooperating cylindrical bearing surface means defining openings 122 and 123 respectively provided in supporting structure 88. Shaft 113 also has a knurled knob 124 fixed thereto in any suitable manner adjacent its outer end.

As seen particularly in FIGURE 7 of the drawings, a cutout means shown at 125 is provided in supporting structure 88 to enable fastening of shaft 113 in position on supporting structure 88. Shaft 113 also has a threaded central portion :as shown at 126 and such threaded central portion is adapted to be threaded in cooperating threaded opening 112 provided in U-shaped bracket 105.

To install roller 90 in position on apparatus 88, bracket 105 is threaded :along central portion 126 of shaft 113 after shaft 113 has been extended through opening 123 provided in C-shaped supporting structure 88. With bracket 105 and its roller 90 thus threaded on central portion 126, the inner end 120 of shaft 113 is suitably fixed in position on supporting structure 88.

In this example of the invention a split ring shown as a snap ring 130 is provided in a cooperating annular groove formed in the terminal end 120 of shaft 113 so that with the snap ring 130 in position shaft 113 is held between the inside surface 131 of knurled knob 124 and snap ring 130 so as to prevent axial movement thereof. However, shaft 113 is freely rotatable so that with sprig 114 disengaged and upon rotating shaft 113 while holding U-shaped bracket 105 stationary, it will be seen that bracket 105 and its roller 90 is adjustably moved axially along shaft 113 to position roller 90 at any desired position on the outer periphery of roller 89. Once the desired position has been reached spring 114 is fastened in position to thereby yieldingly urge the entire U- shaped bracket assembly 105 and its roller 90 toward roller 89 in the manner previously described.

To enable easy passing of elongated conductive strip 27 and insulating strip 28 through apparatus 80 means is provided for holding roller 90 away from roller 89. Thus, as seen particularly in FIGURES 9 and of the drawings, supporting structure 88 has cylindrical opening 133 extending through its upper horizontal portion which is designated by the numeral 134.

A plunger 135 is provided and adapted to be axially slid along opening 133. Plunger 135 has :a knob 136 fixed thereto at the top thereof and a pin 137 fixed tranverse to its lower end and having a length substantially longer than the diameter of pin 137.

Urging means shown :as a compression spring 140 is provided and supported so that it yieldingly acts between lower surface 141 of horizontal portion 134 and pin 137 so as to yieldingly urge pin 137 downwardly as viewed in the drawings. Plunger 135 also has a comparatively small diameter tip 142 provided at its terminal lower end beneath transverse pin 137.

U-shaped bracket 105 has opening means or an elongated slot 143 provided therein which is adapted to receive tip 142. Thus, when it is desired to move roller away from roller 89 to enable passing the material means being wound on mandrel 42 across apparatus 80, the U-shaped bracket and its roller 90 are swung in a clockwise manner about shaft 113 until tip 142 is urged by spring within cooperating opening or slot 143 to thereby hold the U-shaped bracket 105 in a raised position essentially as illustrated in FIGURE 10 of the drawings. When it is desired to release the suspended roller 90, knob 136 is grasped and pulled upwardly to override spring 140 and withdnaw tip 142 from within cooperating slot 143 and thereby allow roller 90 to be positioned by spring 114 against cooperating roller 89 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9 of the drawings.

As previously mentioned, device 80 has positioning means for positioning the entire C-shaped supporting structure 88 on base portion 86. It will be appreciated that by positioning structure 88 with respect to horizontal base portion 86 the position of rollers 89 and 90 are thereby changed with respect to the movement of elongated conductive strip 27 and insulating strip 28 thereacross. The effect of this movement is to slightly change the direction or angle at which strips 27 and 28 approach mandrel 42 to thereby effectively control the winding of strips 27 and 28 on mandrel 42.

The positioning means for positioning supporting structure 88 comprise a pin 145 fixed to the lower surface of lower member 93 comprising structure 88. Pin 145 is adapted to be received in a cavity 146 provided in base portion 86 of device 80. A pair of threaded set screws each designated by the numeral 150 is provided and threaded through base portion 86 and screws 150 extend from opposite sides of base portion 86 into cavity 146 so as to be positioned essentially on opposite sides of pin 145 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

As previously mentioned, supporting structure 88 is mounted on base portion 86 for pivoting movement. In this example of the invention a threaded bolt 154 extends through a bore 155 in base portion 86 and is threaded into a cooperating threaded opening 156 provided in supporting structure 88. Bore 155 has a counterbore 157 provided at its outer end which is adapted to receive a compression opening 160 therewithin. Upon threading bolt 154 in threaded opening 156 spring 160 is compressed and support 88 effectively attached at one point on horizontal base portion 86.

By loosening bolt 154 slightly, threaded screws 150 may each be threaded through cooperating openings 151 in base portion 86 and against downwardly projecting pin 145 so as to pivot the entire structure 88 about its supporting fastening bolt 154. Once structure 88 has been pivoted to the desired position the entire structure 88 is firmly tightened by tightening bolt 154. Thus, it is a simple matter to modify the direction of movement of the strips 27 and 28 across apparatus 80 and hence the manner of winding such strips on mandrel 42 simply by adjusting structure 88 on base portion 86.

The roller means 89 and 90 preferably have peripheral surface means made of a friction material such as rubber, or the like. In this example of the invention rollers 89 and 90' are solid rubber rollers with their respective shafts 92 and 108 extending through the central portion in each instance.

Wedge assembly 91 has antifriction surface means defining its lower surface and the friction surface means defining its upper surface for reasons as will be presently apparent. In this example of the invention wedge assembly 91 is formed in two portions; the lower portion is formed of a substantiallyfrictionless material such as nylon, or the like, and is designated by the numeral 162. The upper portion of wedge assembly 91 is formed of friction material such as rubber and designated by the numeral 163. The nylon material 162 allows wedge assembly 91 to slide easily along substantially U-shaped channel 95 while the wedge-shaped rubber portion 163 is easily frictionally engaged by the rubber outer surface means of roller 89 to thereby move the wedge assembly 91 from right to left as viewed in FIGURE 9 of the drawings.

Thus, it is seen that during a normal coil winding operation roller 89 is normally rotating substantially unobstructed in a counterclockwise direction even though wedge assembly 91 is yieldingly held by spring 100 against the outside periphery of roller 89. However, once the winding operation is stopped for any reason and the direction of movement of material crossing roller 89 is changed even for an instant the resulting action is for roller 89 to attempt to rotate in a clockwise direction. Under this condition and as previously mentioned, the action of roller 89 is to immediately come into firm friction contact with wedge portion 163 and thereby drive wedge assembly 91 firmly between support 88 and roller 89. The driving of Wedge assembly 91' in position is further aided by the fact that portion 162 is made of nylon, or the like, and easily slides along U-shaped slot 95 provided in lower horizontal portion 93 of structure 88.

The wedge portions 162 and 163 may be fastened together in any suitable manner; however, it is preferred that such wedge portions 'be adhesively fastened together using any suitable adhesive material.

During the forming of coil construction 25 the elongated strip of electrically conductive material 27 and the strip of insulating material 28 to be interleaved therewith are passed through apparatus 80 so as to be yieldingly compressed between rollers 89 and 90. In general practice, only one of the elongated strips 27 or 28 is pulled initially to enable winding on mandrel 42 and in this example of the invention only strip 27 is suitably fastened to core 26 carried on mandrel 42.

Upon subsequently rotating mandrel 42 the winding action results in both the conductive strip 27 and the insulating strip 28 being pulled in a simultaneous manner around mandrel 42. In addition, as the two strips of material 27 and 28 are pulled through apparatus 80 rolls 89 and 90 provide an effective compressing interleaving action assuring that the separate elongated strips 27 and 28 are firmly held together and moved in unison to the rotating mandrel 42.

Thus, it is seen that an improved apparatus has been provided which enables the positioning of material means being wound on an associated mandrel during the winding of a coil construction so as to provide a coil construction having the desired characteristics. Further, it is seen that an improved apparatus and a method has been provided which effectively eliminates and prevents backlash during a coil winding operation.

Terms such as upwardly, downwardly, left, right," inwardly, outwardly, and the like, have been used in this disclosure of the invention merely for ease of description and to correspond to the various arrangements and operation of component parts as illustrated in the drawings and such terms should not be considered as limiting the scope of this invention in any way.

While the present exemplary embodiment of this invention, and method of practicing the same, have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for controlling movement of material means comprising, a base, a supporting structure, support means mounted on said supporting structure and supporting said material means for free movement in a given plane and in a first direction thereacross, pivot means mounting said supporting structure on said base for pivoting movement in said plane and in a direction snbstantial- 1y perpendicular to said one direction, wedge means for completely stopping movement of said material means in response to a change in movement of said material means from said first direction to an opposite direction in said plane, and positioning means for adjustably positioning said supporting structure about said pivot means to thereby position said support means and effectively modify the direction of said free movement in said given plane.

2. An apparatus for controlling movement of material means comprising, a supporting structure, support means mounted on said supporting structure and supporting said material means for free movement in a first direction thereacross, and stopping means for completely stopping movement of said material means in response to a change in movement of said material means from said first direction to an opposite direction, said support means comprising first roller means mounted on said supporting structure with said material means in pressure contact thereagainst and causing rotation of said first roller means in one direction corresponding to movement of said material means in said first direction with said stopping means being operated by said first roller means, said stopping means comprising wedge means carried on said supporting structure and lightly held against said first roller means while allowing free rotation in said one direction and upon stopping said free movement of said material means across said first roller means any movement of said material means causing rotation of said first roller means in a direction opposite said one direction wedges said wedge means between said supporting structure and said first roller means to stop said first roller means and said material means, said apparatus further comprising substantially channel-shaped surface means defining elongated slot means provided in said supporting structure with its elongated axis extending substantially parallel to said first direction and said wedge means has antifriction surface means defining its lower surface and friction surface means defining its upper surface so that with rotation of said first roller means in said opposite direction said friction surface means and antifriction surface means assure said first roller means moves said wedge means rapidly along said slot means to stop said material means.

3. An apparatus for controlling movement of material means comprising, a supporting structure, support means mounted on said supporting structure and supporting said material means for free movement in a first direction thereacross, and stopping means for completely stopping movement of said material means in response to a change in movement of said material means from said first direction to an opposite direction, said support means comprises first roller means mounted on said supporting structure with said material means in pressure contact thereagainst and causing rotation of said first roller means in one direction corresponding to movement of said material means in said first direction and said stopping means is operated by said first roller means, said stopping means comprising wedge means carried on said supporting structure and lightly held against said first roller means while allowing free rotation in said one direction and further comprising bearing surface means yieldingly clamping said material means against said first roller means while allowing said free movement, whereby upon stopping movement of said material means across said first roller means any movement of said material means causing rotation of said first roller means in a direction opposite said one direction wedges said wedge means between said supporting structure and said first roller means to stop said first roller means to prevent backlash of said material means.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said bearing surface means comprises second roller means and further comprising yielding means yieldingly urging said second roller means toward said first roller means.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said first and second roller means comprise right circular cylindrical roller means arranged on said supporting structure With their axes in substantially parallel relation and said yielding means comprises mechanical spring means acting between said supporting structure and said second roller means.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said first and second roller means have resilient peripheral surface means and further comprising adjusting means for axially adjusting the position of said second roller means with respect to said first roller means and said supporting structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,270,730 1/ 1942 Gochnauer 226-148 2,342,049 2/1944 Holmbeck 226-148 X 2,969,888 1/1961 Whiting 242-56.1 X

JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner C. E. HALL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

